A collaboration between two UK-based electric motor design and engineering companies has led to the development of the high performance electric motor for the Ariel HIPERCAR – which made its debut at Cenex-LCV Expo 2017 – on 6th September.

HIPERCAR (standing for High Performance Carbon Reduction) is an ultra-high performance, range extended, electric sports car. As with other Ariel vehicles the focus of HIPERCAR is on extreme performance, agility and usability, now coupled with zero and ultra-low emissions.

Motor Design Limited (MDL) is a developer of advanced software design tools for electrical machines. The Wrexham-based company is best known for its Motor-CAD software suite – said to be the most complete and integrated electrical and thermal motor design software.MDL’s Dr Mircea Popescu created the electromagnetic and thermal design for the APM 200 motor.

The company worked with Norwich-based Equipmake, specialists in design, prototyping and production of high performance motors and power electronics. MDL used its Motor-CAD software to assist in the development of Equipmake’s ground breaking APM200 motor.

Equipmake MD Ian Foley says, “Equipmake and MDL have collaborated on a number of high performance motor development projects, culminating in the development of the APM200. Equipmake is currently delivering prototypes to OEMs and will start production in 2019. Our close collaboration with MDL has enabled us to go from CAD design to validated prototype in record time.”

The powered wheels are driven by inboard motors via integral, single speed step-down gearboxes direct to driven wheels, with each individual motor developing 220kW (295bhp) and 450Nm (332 ft lb) of torque. Together, the output comes to 880kW (1180bhp) accelerating the car from 0-60mph in 2.4 seconds with 100mph coming in a further 1.4 seconds eventually hitting its top speed of 160mph just more than 4 seconds later still.

The car will be available in four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive variants and will offer staggering performance utilising cutting edge, UK developed technology and will be built in Somerset, England by Ariel.

The HIPERCAR is expected for release in 2019 and Ariel production in 2020 alongside the other models Atom, Nomad and Ace.

Pricing will not be finalised until later in the project.Ariel’s managing director, Simon Saunders, said: “It will be an expensive car because of the technology involved but when compared to £1m+ supercars, which it will outperform, it’s going to represent excellent value for money.This is the first true electric supercar that will cross continents, drive to town and lap a race track.”